While it’s a good thing that more and more citizens in the GTA and Canada are becoming aware of mold risks and seeking out mold inspection companies, the mold industry remains unregulated and unlicensed.
To get safe and lasting mold removal, you need to find a certified mold inspector with a distinction such as Council-Certified Microbial Inspector. If you don’t find a company with the proper qualifications, you could be a scam victim.
What are some scams to watch for? Here are 10 common mold scams in the Greater Toronto Area, in random order.
1. The door-to-door air quality test scam
If a salesman tries to sell you an expensive air filter and wants to win you over with a Petri dish test, slam your front door shut. In this scam, a salesperson will leave a Petri dish in your home for a set amount of time, and then show you how much mold has accumulated in it. What he or she doesn’t tell you is that the mold accumulates naturally in a Petri dish anywhere, inside or outside, at your house or someone else’s. It doesn’t prove anything about mold in your home or workplace.
2. The moldy home scam
Some home or business owners will sweep their dirt – or, in this case, mold – under the rug. They’ll cover it or paint over it before selling you the property. Make sure you give a place a proper mold test before committing to any purchase.
3. The house sabotage scam
In this nasty scam, a mold inspector will sabotage your building to foster mold growth, closing windows, running humidifiers, cranking hot showers and doing anything that creates moisture. Keep an eye on the inspector if he doesn’t leave everything in your building exactly the way it was!
4. The fake mold test scam
Faking a mold test is a simple but effective scam. Take the results from a positive test, forge the location, and tell the building owner that the test is theirs. For this reason, it’s important to have a mold inspection company show you the problem rather than just hand you a piece of paper detailing the results.
5. The Improper mold removal scam
Some companies will take your money and not do the job right. Without proper training, they may not use gloves or masks, HEPA filters, containment plastic or fungicide. Doing the job wrong can stir up the spores and leave your home worse off than it was before.
6. The bleach scam
Bleaching mold changes its appearance and can make it appear “gone.” However, the bleach is a temporary killer at best. If the moist conditions remain, the mold will return. Don’t trust any Toronto mold removal company championing bleach as their main tool.
7. The particle counting scam
Particle counting tools can in fact detect mold spores – but they also detect countless other airborne particles, like pet dander or pollen. Particle counting tests are thus inaccurate, as too many other variables might be included in the results.
8. The ozone generator scam
Some mold removal “experts” will release massive amounts of ozone gas into a building to eliminate mold. However, it only kills the exposed mold; it can’t penetrate drywall or tiles or any other surface under which mold hides. Ozone is also a harmful gas that damages any plastic or rubber material it contacts. It could destroy your home and your health without even fully eliminating your mold.
MoldInspections.ca is the trusted leader for mold-free homes and breathable indoor air spaces in Toronto, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and beyond. Providing certified mold inspection, detection and testing since 2005, we service home owners, real-estate agents, landlords, property managers, insurance companies and businesses. Featured on CTV and recommended by contractors, we regularly serve as expert witnesses in court proceeding relating to Mold and Indoor Air Quality issues. Do you have mold? Call us today for a free quote at (416) 575-6111.
